A devastating flash flood in Tamak Gad, Chamoli, Uttarakhand, has once again highlighted the growing disaster risks in the high Himalayas. The flood washed away a bridge on the route to the Niti Valley, temporarily cutting off connectivity to several villages near the India-China border.
But scientists are concerned that this may be more than just a cloudburst. Renowned geologist Dr. Naveen Juyal suggests that the collapse of a hanging glacier could also trigger such catastrophic floods. According to him, rising global temperatures are changing snowfall patterns, weakening small hanging glaciers and increasing the risk of sudden glacier-related disasters.
From the 2021 Rishi Ganga disaster to recent events in Dharali and Tharali, Himalayan communities have repeatedly witnessed the devastating consequences of extreme weather and fragile mountain infrastructure.
This report examines the science, climate change connection and growing disaster threat facing Uttarakhand’s high Himalayas.
